749: SEX CHALLENGE DERAILED

“Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays but never lose sight of your goal.” —Mario Andretti

A sex challenge is a great way to strengthen your intimacy. It’s an opportunity to prioritize each other and reset your marriage.

But there will be times when a sex challenge gets derailed.

It could be for any number of reasons.

There might be a health or family crisis. Perhaps the kids’ schedule changed. Or maybe there was a work emergency. Even emotional disconnection can cause a derailment.

At the end of the day, what matters most isn’t what derailed your sex challenge. It’s how you face the obstacle and move forward together that’s important.

Despite how it might sound, a sex challenge is about more than just sex. It’s about engaging with each other in both sexual and non-sexual ways. It shifts all of your 6 Pillars of Intimacy®, especially your emotional, physical, and sexual intimacy.

A sex challenge has countless benefits.

You’ll improve your communication, get comfortable talking about sex, and be intentional about romance and foreplay. It helps you create a happier and healthier marriage.

When you commit to a challenge like this, it forces you to assess how you interact with your spouse in all areas of your marriage. For example, you can’t enjoy a sex challenge if there are cracks in your emotional intimacy.

It illuminates areas in your marriage that need repair, and as you address those areas, you experience a reset in your marriage.

To get started, grab our best-selling book, 7 Days of Sex Challenge, for free today.

Since 2008, we have done at least one 7-Day Sex Challenge every year. Sometimes it even became a 14-Day or a 30-Day challenge.

But in the last 90 days, our sex challenge was derailed twice.

Two different times this year, we’ve had to choose: either let this obstacle become a wedge between us or draw us closer together.

When a sex challenge gets derailed, you have to decide how you will handle things as a couple. There are three steps to help you move forward.

First, talk about what happened.

Even though it might seem obvious, it’s important to address why you had to end the challenge. Whether it was a major or minor disruption, talk about it. Don’t ignore it.

Second, talk about how you are both feeling. Don’t assume you understand your spouse’s feelings or that they understand yours.

Third, talk about what you can do next.

After one or more sex challenges get derailed, it can be intimidating to try again. You may choose to wait a little while before your next attempt. Whatever your decision—whether you want to try again right away or wait a few months—make a plan.

Talking with your spouse about these three aspects will not only help you experience closure, but it will also ensure you both agree on how you will move forward.

A derailed sex challenge doesn’t mean you have a major crack in your 6 Pillars of Intimacy. Instead, it’s an opportunity for you to strengthen your emotional and sexual intimacy by talking about what happened.

Resources

7 Days Of Sex Challenge: How to Rock Your Sex Life and Your Marriage

Überlube (Our favorite lube)

Connect with Us

Join the ONE Family private Facebook group to share your story and connect with other couples who are creating extraordinary marriages. To reach us on the Hug Hotline, call or text 858-876-5663 or email hugs@oneextraordinarymarriage.com.